2018 TAKING THE PULSE OF OUR COMMUNITY

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Kerry Fleming
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1 2018 TAKING THE PULSE OF OUR COMMUNITY

2 Overview WHAT IS CANBERRA S VITAL SIGNS? Vital Signs Canberra 2018 is a community-led research initiative that explores key themes of health, education and employment, housing and belonging. Vital Signs is a global research methodology designed to help identify a community s successes and challenges. HANDS ACROSS CANBERRA AND THE SNOW FOUNDATION Hands Across Canberra in partnership with The Snow Foundation is launching Vital Signs Canberra. These two leading organisations are focused on supporting disadvantaged people and have engaged deeply with the Canberra community with this lens of disadvantage in mind to deliver Vital Signs Canberra Vital Signs will assist with raising awareness of the strengths and challenges within our community by identifying trends, priorities and opportunities. It aims to create the incentive to build community action and help decide where to focus attention and resources to have the greatest impact. Vital Signs Canberra 2018 provides a snapshot of our unique city, grounded in data and local knowledge focused on our four themes of Health, Education and Employment, Housing and Belonging. It provides an insight into our community and has uncovered very different realities for many people across the city: We have a median age of 34, we also have the fastest growing population of people over the age of 65 in Australia. We have the highest median disposable household income in Australia, yet many people live in poverty. Nearly 70% own their own home, yet buying is becoming less affordable, and the ACT is experiencing a severe shortage of rental properties with less than 1% of properties available. We are the most physically active Australians, yet obesity is the 3rd largest contributor to disease burden in the city and mental health is a growing issue. While we are a highly educated workforce and have high numbers of students receiving a year 12 certificate, we also have challenges making educational achievement a reality for disadvantaged or minority groups. We believe that diversity strengthens our community. Discrimination complaints are decreasing however disability and race top the list of complaints to the ACT Human Rights Commission. CANBERRA IS UNIQUE As the capital city of Australia, Canberra is home to a range of national, cultural, research, political and government institutions, as well as more than 100 embassies and high commissions. For two decades we have hosted events that bring many elements of our community together, including the largest multicultural festival and the largest springtime festival in Australia. Our community attracts people from around the nation and the world, but receives low numbers of migrants and refugees. Canberrans are more likely to volunteer their time and donate more than the rest of Australia. In 2016, the Sustainable Cities Index ranked Canberra number 18 in the world and the number 1 sustainable city in Australia. We were the first jurisdiction in Australia to legislate human rights and had the highest percentage of people voting in favour of samesex marriage. Canberra is undergoing significant redevelopment to improve urban life and create new suburbs to accommodate our growing population. We expect to reach 500,000 residents by ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people. We wish to acknowledge and pay respect to their continuing culture and the contributions their elders past, present and future make to the life of this city and region.

3 Our Canberra: VITAL SIGNS CANBERRA SCORE CARD HEALTH What we can celebrate Australia s most physically active city. 415,900 Population AGE 34 Median age What we need to improve Rates of overweight/ obese residents, and poor mental health. EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT What we can celebrate Highest average education, low unemployment, highest wages % Children 0-14 years RELIGION 14% Youth years MULTICULTURAL 180 Nationalities SEXUAL ORIENTATION 16,900 people have a sexual orientation other than heterosexual 45% Christian 54% Adults years 26% born overseas 1.7% of migrants coming to Australia ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE 1.8% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 37% No religion 9% Other religion 13% Senior Citizens 65+ years 24% speak a language other than English at home DISABILITY 16% people live with disability 5% people live with a profound or severe disability HOUSING BELONGING What we need to improve Education equity and underemployment. What we can celebrate A high percentage of homeowners. What we need to improve Housing affordability, rental stress, homelessness especially among older women, youth and children. What we can celebrate Highest levels of volunteering and giving. High social, cultural and sports participation. INCOME $1,297 median weekly income after tax compared with $877 for Australia POVERTY 9% are living in poverty of whom 25% are children What we need to improve Consider increasing numbers of new migrants and refugees.

4 Health Key Messages and Trends Canberrans are more physically active than other Australians; however obesity remains a major issue in the ACT. Unlike most health issues, mental illness has a disproportionate affect on young people. Canberra has the lowest bulk-billing rate in Australia. A high proportion of people living with disability are low-income earners making access to medical and dental attention a challenge. HEALTHY LIVING ACCESS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 91.4% participated in sport or physical activity in the last 12 months, above the national participation rate of 89.8%. 46% of older persons were meeting the national guidelines for adequate physical activity % GENERAL PRACTITIONERS The ACT has the lowest bulk-billing rate in Australia at 69% compared to the national average of 79%. 69% ACT OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY Obesity is the 3rd largest contributor to disease burden. 64% of adults, which is close to the national average of 63%, and 23% of children are either overweight or obese. MENTAL HEALTH ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Between 2013 and 2016 there was a significant decrease in daily drinking from 6.6% to 3.6%, in comparison to a slight decline across Australia. YOUTH WOMEN MEN 75% of all mental illness manifests by the age of % Children 76,000 Residents are affected by mental illness every year. 64 % Adults 11,000 5,000 4,000 Of the 506 hospitalisations reported for self-harm in , 76% were females. 6.6 % 3.6 % have an anxiety disorder have an affective disorder have a substance use disorder 75 % 76 % Men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women in the ACT. 3x MORE LIKELY 79% National average REFUGEES The ACT is the best performer when it comes to providing hospital and primary health care services to people seeking asylum. DISABILITY Over a quarter of people with a disability over the age of 15 years were in the bottom 40% of income earners compared to 12% of people with no reported disability. DEMENTIA 40% ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE 3x AS LIKELY Almost one-third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 18 reported having high or very high levels of psychological distress. They are nearly three times as likely to experience these high levels of distress as non-indigenous people. TRANSGENDER Around 77% of transgender youth have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression. 79% of transgender youth have self-harmed and 42% have attempted suicide. An estimated 4,400 people are living with dementia. Half of the people who lived in permanent residential aged care had a diagnosis of dementia. 4,400 living with dementia

5 Education and Employment Key Messages and Trends Canberra has a high performing education system and high completion rates. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Canberra have high completion rates and outperform their national peers in NAPLAN testing. Canberra has a highly educated workforce and low unemployment. The impact of a student s socioeconomic background on educational achievement is high in the ACT. Canberra has the highest new business growth in Australia. The unemployment rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is half the national figure. EDUCATION CHILDHOOD EDUCATION At 55% the ACT has the highest proportion of children (0-12 years) attending child care services, compared with nationally 52% [and the trend is upwards]. EQUITY 55 of children attend child care services. The impact of a student s socioeconomic background on achievement was significantly higher in the ACT than other Australian jurisdictions (placing it as low equity). CHILDCARE 20% of children do not have access to structured education between the ages of % YEAR 12 NUMBERS AND CERTIFICATES In % of Year 10 students proceeded to public secondary college education and 88% achieved an ACT Senior Secondary Certificate. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students 86% proceeded to public secondary college and 73% received an ACT Senior Secondary Certificate. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL NAPLAN PERFORMANCE The ACT was highest or equal highest in the country in 19 out of the 20 areas tested in NAPLAN. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students outperformed their respective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander averages in each discipline. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS During the first half of 2018, 14,055 international students were studying in the ACT, which was 2% of international students in Australia. 2% EMPLOYMENT HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE 43% of people employed hold a Bachelor degree or higher compared with 31% nationally. 78% of people aged years have a Year 12 Certificate (or equivalent) compared with 64% nationally. UNEMPLOYMENT The unemployment rate for the ACT is 3.6% compared to 5.3% nationally. The youth unemployment rate is 10% compared to 11.1% nationally. ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples unemployment rate is 9.2% compared to 18.2% nationally; and the unemployment rate for people born in Other than Main English Speaking Countries is 3.6% compared to 6.1% nationally. OVERALL YOUTH ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER OTMESC 3.6% 3.6% 5.3% 6.1% 10% 11.1% 9.2% 18.2% ACT unemployment rate National unemployment rate UNDEREMPLOYMENT The underemployment rate is 5.4% compared to 8.5% nationally, and the underutilisation rate (unemployed and underemployed) is 9.1% compared to 13.9% nationally. GENDER PAY GAP The ACT s gender pay gap stood at 13.1% in May 2018 up from 12.4% a year earlier. The national figure for May 2018 was 14.6%. 13.1% BUSINESS OWNERSHIP / ENTREPRENEURSHIP The ACT experienced the strongest growth in new business in the financial year to with 4.5%, the Australian average was 3.1%. 4.5%

6 Housing Key Messages and Trends Renting in Canberra is becoming more unaffordable. There is a significant shortage of available rental properties in the market. Nearly half of Canberrans receiving government rental support are in rental stress. Homelessness remains an issue in Canberra with young people and older women facing particular challenges. Canberra is seeing a significant increase in rough sleepers. Buying a house is becoming less affordable for many people. Over half of female home owners who leave their home due to domestic violence become homeless in 12 months. HOUSING STRESS HOMELESSNESS RENTER OR OWNER Nearly 30% are renting which has increased since % have a mortgage (which is higher than the Australian average at 34%), and 30% own their home outright. RENT Of those Canberrans receiving Commonwealth Rental Assistance, 48% are in rental stress (i.e. paying more than 30% of their income on rent). 22% are spending more than 50% of their income on rent the highest proportion in Australia. 30% 37% 30% Renting Mortgage Owned Canberra has 34% of low income households in rental stress, which has been increasing since 2009/10. 34% Rental stress ROUGH SLEEPERS In 2016 there were 54 rough sleepers, a doubling since The increase in the number of rough sleepers nationally is 20%. 54 HOMELESS SERVICES 4,585 clients sought assistance between with nearly 30% being children. The proportion of older people seeking assistance increased from 11% to 17% with an 18% increase in older women. 18% The current vacancy rate for available houses to rent in Canberra is less than 1% and this is decreasing. < 1% vacancy HOUSE PRICES The median house price is $700,000 which has increased by 25% over the past 5 years. $700,000 25% over 5yrs Canberra has had the highest annual rental increase at 4.5% behind Hobart at 10.7%. 4.5% Canberra RENT INCREASE Only 2.4% of houses sold in the 12 months to June 2018 transacted at a price under $400, % Sold June <$400,000 HOMELESS The number of homeless people decreased by 8% between 2011 and 2016 to 1,600. Across Australia, the number increased by 14%. 1,600 PRIORITY HOUSING On average, applicants for priority public housing are waiting for 207 days for a property. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Over half, 55%, of female home owners who leave their home because of domestic violence, become homeless in 12 months.

7 Belonging Key Messages and Trends We are relatively inclusive and progressive, and believe that diversity strengthens our community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are significantly over represented in out-of-home care. Canberra receives comparatively low numbers of migrants and refugees. Our community has strong engagement and participation in sports, culture and the arts. Canberrans demonstrate strong commitment to donating and to volunteering. COHESION INCLUSION DIVERSITY 92% agree that it is good to have cultural diversity compared with the national average of 85%. At 74% Canberra had the highest vote in favour of same sex marriage compared to the rest of Australia at 62% of voters. STUDENTS Students from the ACT had the 2nd lowest sense of belonging at school (behind the Northern Territory). REFUGEES The number of people granted a protection visa (refugee status) who resided in the ACT was 1.2% of all such grants. MIGRANTS The number of migrants arriving in Canberra has increased from 3,210 in 2014 to 4,200 in 2017, which represents 1.7% of the national figures being 182,350 and 240,420. 4, % DISCRIMINATION Although overall numbers of discrimination complaints to the ACT Human Rights Commission are low at 121, some 30% relate to disability and 20% relate to race, which have decreased from the previous year. TRUST Canberra has the highest proportion of people who feel they can trust most people at 61% compared to the rest of Australia at 55%. 61% CRIME RATES In there was a 19% increase in reported crimes against the person. In the same period there was a 5% decrease in reported crimes against property. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CHILDREN 28% of children in out-of-home care in the ACT are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, the second highest proportion in the country. DISABILITY 62,000 people, 16%, live with a disability and are more likely to experience relatively poor health and lower levels of participation in education, training and employment. CONTRIBUTION 62,000 There are almost 1,900 older people who reported not being able to speak English well or at all. TRANSPORT Canberra ranked poorly for access to transport compared with other Australian cities. 28% SAFETY 56% of people feel safe walking in their neighbourhood at night. PARTICIPATION CULTURE AND LEISURE Canberra has the highest participation at 93% in cultural and leisure activities such as museums, art galleries, movies, concerts, public libraries compared with Australia at 87%. VOLUNTEERING Almost 37% are volunteers. This is the highest rate in Australia (national average is 31%). Canberra s youth have the highest participation in volunteering at 57% compared with youth nationally at 54%. 37% CHARITABLE GIVING At 77% Canberra has the highest proportion of the community who donate money in Australia compared to the national average at 72%. 77%

8 Hands Across Canberra together with The Snow Foundation would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who have participated, assisted and contributed to this report. Executive Committee Peter Gordon, Chief Executive Officer, Hands Across Canberra Georgina Byron, Chief Executive Officer, The Snow Foundation Project Team Antonia Kaucz, Project Officer Lesley Daw, Hands Across Canberra Carolyn Ludovici, The Snow Foundation Melissa Foreman, The Snow Foundation Expert Panel Susan Helyar, Director, ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Prof. Robert Tanton, Director, The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, University of Canberra Frances Crimmins, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Canberra Dr Justin Barker, Executive Director, Youth Coalition of the ACT Community Participants Anne-Marie Delahunt, LGBTIQ Council Bill Caddey, Belconnen Community Service Chris Redmond, Woden Community Services Dave Burnet, OzHarvest Deborah Evans, Tjillari Justice Aboriginal Corporation Diane Kargas, Hands Across Canberra Fiona May, ACT Advisory Council on Ageing Gemma Wood, ACT Education Directorate Glenn Draper, ACT Health Glenys Patulny, Tuggeranong Community Council Greg Aldridge, Everyman Australia Isaac Martin, Youth Advisory Council Janet Dawson, ACT Community Services Directorate Jayne Miller, Canberra Institute of Technology Jenny McGee, UnitingCare Kippax Katrina Fanning, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Elected Body Kirk Zwangobani, ACT Multicultural Advisory Council Lachlan Atyeo, ACT Mental Health Advisory Council Marcia Williams, Women s Centre for Health Matters / Domestic Violence Prevention Council Megan Ward, CHC Affordable Housing Michelle Robertson, communities@work Naresh Gunasekere, Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services, Paul Mayars, ACT Health Richard Griffiths, Safe Shelter Rohan Ford, ACT Health Trish Jones, ACT Shelter Zoe Holdenson, Capital Health Network External Review Ellen Davis-Meehan, Key Insights Pty Ltd Vital Signs is a community check-up conducted by community foundations around the world that measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life. With special thanks to the Toronto Foundation for developing and sharing the Vital Signs concept. The Vital Signs logo and program is used with permission from Community Foundations of Canada. Australian Community Philanthropy manages the licensing of Vital Signs within Australia. Accessibility If you have difficulty reading a standard print document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please communications@handsacrosscanberra.org.au If English is not your first language and you require translating and interpreting services please telephone (within Australia). Disclaimer: While every effort has been made by Hands Across Canberra and The Snow Foundation to ensure the information in this report is true and correct at the time of publication, the availability of new or revised data and changing circumstances may affect the accuracy of that information. Neither Hands Across Canberra nor The Snow Foundation give any warranty or assurance and make no representation about the accuracy or reliability of the information in this report. Hands Across Canberra and The Snow Foundation accept no liability for any loss suffered through the use of any information contained in this report. The report has been compiled using information from a range of sources including third parties, publicly available documents and accessible websites which Hands Across Canberra and The Snow Foundation cannot guarantee as suitable, complete or accurate for any specific purpose. A summary of the data sourced for this report is available at This publication is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.

Indicators: volunteering; social cohesion; imprisonment; crime victimisation (sexual assault); child maltreatment; suicide.

Indicators: volunteering; social cohesion; imprisonment; crime victimisation (sexual assault); child maltreatment; suicide. This domain includes themes of social cohesion, justice and community safety, child safety and suicide. Research shows a link between poverty and disadvantage and increased levels of social exclusion,